Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) has stopped taking orders for the HTC Evo 4G as strong demand has made the device difficult to obtain. The company’s website on said on Thursday that shoppers should “check back later — more are on their way!”
A spokeswoman for Sprint said that its retail stores will hold a phone for 24 hours after contacting a customer. Some retailers say that they will call customers looking for the device when more shipments arrive.
Sprint has had difficulty in meeting demand for the first 4G phones. Sprint says that additional shipments are continuing to arrive at all of its sales location.
Analysts believe that the delays won’t have a major impact on Sprint sales. Stifel Nicolaus analyst Chris King said to the press that customers that want the 4G device have nowhere to turn will have to wait and that he does not expect subscriber losses from the shortage, but his forecast for growth in new subscribers may have to be cut.
“It’s surprising that they launched the product with that few handsets in stock on a national basis, if those numbers are indeed accurate,” King said.
